The role of sialoglycans in modulating dendritic cell function and tumour immunity.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for initiating immune responses against tumours by presenting antigens to T cells. Glycosylation, particularly sialylation, plays a significant role in regulating cell functions, by modulating protein folding and signalling. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of how sialic acids influence key aspects of DC biology, including maturation, migration, antigen presentation, and T cell interactions.

Perceptions of medical doctors and patients about imaging for people with low back pain: A qualitative study.

Background: Low-value care is the use of substitutive/ineffective/harmful strategies based on available evidence, and it is considered one of the main contributors to the burden related to low back pain in health care systems. The use of routine imaging for patients with low back pain is the main example of inappropriate care. Therefore, understanding the perceptions of medical doctors and patients from Brazil about this practice may help propose strategies to reduce imaging rates.

Revisiting the immunopathology of congenital disorders of glycosylation: an updated review.

Glycosylation is a critical post-translational modification that plays a pivotal role in several biological processes, such as the immune response. Alterations in glycosylation can modulate the course of various pathologies, such as the case of congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), a group of more than 160 rare and complex genetic diseases. Although the link between glycosylation and immune dysfunction has already been recognized, the immune involvement in most CDG remains largely unexplored and poorly understood.

Algae-Based Supplements Claiming Weight Loss Properties: Authenticity Control and Scientific-Based Evidence on Their Effectiveness.

The worldwide prevalence of obesity impacts more than 600 million adults. Successfully managing weight is effective in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, but sustaining long-term weight loss remains a challenge. Although there are supplements based on algae that claim to aid in weight loss, there is a notable scarcity of scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, and their regular consumption safety remains inadequately addressed.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Magnetite/Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites.

Nanocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and magnetite nanoparticles (MNP-FeO) show promise for applications in biomedical treatments. One key challenge is to improve the stabilization and dispersion of MNP-FeO. To address this, we synthesized MNP-FeO/PLA nanocomposites using ultrasound mediation and a single iron(II) precursor, eliminating the need for surfactants or organic solvents, and conducted the process under ambient conditions.

Gold nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride at low concentration.

The oil and gas industry plays a vital role in the global economy. The production process has several critical conditions and can expose metals to corrosion. Surfactants like the quaternary ammonium salt Benzyldimethyldodecylammonium Bromide (BDAC) are currently used to prevent corrosions; classical methods for determining these surfactants have problems in saline samples and usually present high costs.

Efficacy/effectiveness and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis of people with hemophilia A: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Emicizumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for prophylaxis against bleeds for people with hemophilia A (PwHA). A systematic review was conducted evaluating the efficacy/effectiveness and the safety of emicizumab as prophylaxis for PwHA compared to prophylaxis with factor VIII (FVIII) or bypassing agents (BPA), respectively in patients without and with inhibitors.

Research Design And Methods: Database-directed search strategies were performed in Aug/26/2022 and updated in Mar/16/2023.

Emicizumab prophylaxis for people with hemophilia A: Waste estimation and the Brazilian perspective.

Costs of hemophilia A treatment are increasing. Waste of clotting products should be avoided. To estimate the first-year waste of emicizumab prophylaxis for people with hemophilia A and inhibitors (PwHAi) who failed immune tolerance induction (ITI), in Brazil.

Fish chorus variation in a tropical estuarine environmenta).

Fish choruses are still understudied in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Temporal and spatial variation of fish choruses at two sites inside Guanabara Bay were investigated between 2021 and 2022; one sampling site was in a Marine Protected Area (MPA), and the other was in a rocky environment closer to vessel trafficking areas. Acoustic recordings were performed on 17 sampling occasions of 24 h, coupled to a temperature data logger.

Effect of protein addition in properties of gels produced with jackfruit () seed starch: rheological and texture properties.

Unlabelled: Starches and proteins are two major types of biopolymer components in many foods. The interactions of protein with starches greatly influence the matrix structure and properties of starch-based food systems. In this study, the physical-chemical properties and the effect of the commercial whey protein concentrate in the texture and rheological properties of jackfruit starch gels were evaluated.

Flash glucose monitoring system in gestational diabetes: a study of accuracy and usability.

Purpose: Studies of flash glucose monitoring systems (FGMSs) in pregnancy are insufficient, especially in gestational diabetes (GD). Our aim was to evaluate Freestyle Libre's usability and accuracy (compared to self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG]) for GD patients in real-life conditions.

Methods: This is a prospective study with pregnant women diagnosed with GD (n = 24 for the usability analysis; n = 19 for the accuracy analysis).

Chronic pain after hospital discharge on patients hospitalized for COVID-19: an observational study.

Background: There are few studies related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the prevalence and nature of pain symptoms after hospital discharge, especially in individuals who develop moderate to severe disease forms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of chronic pain in patients discharged after hospitalization for COVID-19, and the relationship between the presence of chronic pain and intensive care stay, demographics, and risk factors for the worst Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outcome.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on patients with COVID-19 who recovered after hospitalization.

Is elevated blood glucose at admission associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?

Objective: Hyperglycemia has been suggested as a risk factor for poor outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of our work was to evaluate the association between blood glucose levels at admission (BGA) and disease outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Subjects And Methods: Retrospective study including all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to a Portuguese hospital from March to August 2020 with BGA measurement.

Influence of Immobilization Strategies on the Antibacterial Properties of Antimicrobial Peptide-Chitosan Coatings.

It is key to fight bacterial adhesion to prevent biofilm establishment on biomaterials. Surface immobilization of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) is a promising strategy to avoid bacterial colonization. This work aimed to investigate whether the direct surface immobilization of Dhvar5, an AMP with head-to-tail amphipathicity, would improve the antimicrobial activity of chitosan ultrathin coatings.

Creating mindful heroes: a case study with ninth grade students.

The Heroic Imagination Project (HIP) aims to redefine heroism as a set of habits that anyone can achieve. Research findings on the psychological foundations of negative forms of social influence that can lead to bystander behavior are translated into tools that individuals can use in their daily lives. Habits of wise and effective helping behavior are learned, modeled, and encouraged through the training of the "heroic imagination.

Association between functional aspects and health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer: can handgrip strength be the measure of choice in clinical practice?

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A cross-sectional study was conducted including CRC patients.

Methods: We performed an assessment of aspects of functional health using the criteria of frailty phenotype (defined by Fried et al.

Economic Evaluation of Immune Tolerance Induction in Children With Severe Hemophilia A and High-Responding Inhibitors: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Prophylaxis With Emicizumab.

Objective: This study aimed to measure the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis with emicizumab in PsHAhri on ITI in Brazil.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness modeling analysis was used to estimate the costs per PsHAhri on ITI and the number of prevented bleedings from undertaking one intervention (prophylaxis with BpA) over another (prophylaxis with emicizumab), based on the Brazilian Ministry of Health perspective. Costs of ITI with recombinant FVIII, prophylaxis with BpA or emicizumab, and treated bleeding episodes with BpA costs were evaluated for PsHAhri who had ITI success or failure.

Short-term outcomes after an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in abdominal hysterectomies for leiomyomas in a teaching hospital.

Objective: To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomies for leiomyomas before and after the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in a teaching hospital.

Methods: This prospective cohort study compared a patient group from a historical series (pre-ERAS) with another group after ERAS implementation. Fasting time, length of hospital stay, complications, readmission rates, and procedure-related hospital costs were analyzed.

Camel Grass Phenolic Compounds: Targeting Inflammation and Neurologically Related Conditions.

Background: The use of plants for therapeutic purposes has been supported by growing scientific evidence.

Methods: This work consisted of (i) characterizing the phenolic compounds present in both aqueous and hydroethanol (1:1, /) extracts of camel grass, by hyphenated liquid chromatographic techniques, (ii) evaluating their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuromodulation potential, through cell and cell-free models, and (iii) establishing a relationship between the chemical profiles of the extracts and their biological activities.

Results: Several caffeic acid and flavonoid derivatives were determined in both extracts.

Instruments to Measure Patient Satisfaction with Comprehensive Medication Management Services: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is the service offered within the clinical practice of pharmaceutical care, which has the objective to optimize pharmacotherapeutic outcomes. Patient satisfaction is a multidimensional construct that points to the quality of the health services offered and the degree to which the patients' expectations and needs are met. The evaluation of the level of patient satisfaction is a key indicator to support decisions and to improve the quality of the service provided.

Erosion susceptibility mapping in the Central-Eastern Region of São Paulo in the last few decades.

Soil degradation has become a critical global environmental challenge as a result of rapid population growth, intensified erosion, and increased global warming. Depletion of nutrients, decreased infiltration, availability of water in the subsoil, silting, and eutrophication of surface water resources are directly associated with soil degradation. Water erosion is one of the primary causes of erosion.

Postpartum reclassification test in gestational diabetes: can the test be reduced to 1 hour?

Purpose: In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is recommended. However, poor adherence to this procedure has been described, and the time required is one of the reasons. Our aims were to identify predictive factors for abnormal 2-h reclassification OGTT values, including OGTT 1-h glucose, and, if it was a factor, to determine the 1-h cutoff point that best identifies abnormal values at 2 h.

Lipodystrophy: Still an underdiagnosed complication of subcutaneous insulin administration.

Lipodystrophy is a common but often underdiagnosed complication of subcutaneous insulin injections. We present an illustrative case, aiming to remind physicians to consider lipodystrophy when evaluating a patient under insulin therapy with otherwise unexplained metabolic decompensation. A complete physical examination and patient education are crucial in this setting.

Fusions of a carbohydrate binding module with the small cationic hexapeptide RWRWRW confer antimicrobial properties to cellulose-based materials.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a critical worldwide healthcare problem. In the specific case of wound care, new and effective alternatives to currently available solutions are urgently needed. Cellulose-based dressings, for example, could be made more attractive if rendered antimicrobial.